VICTORIA – British Columbia continues to face challenging global economic conditions, but fiscal prudence and a focus on a competitive economy that creates jobs and attracts international investment will help B.C. manage these risks, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon said in a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade today.

In his address, Falcon reviewed the state of the 2011 provincial economy, the outlook for the coming year and discussed the importance of making British Columbia more competitive for job-creating businesses.

As part of ‘Canada Starts Here: the B.C. Jobs Plan’, the minister also announced the government has appointed an Expert Panel on Tax to provide analysis and recommendations to the Province on business tax competitiveness and administrative improvements to streamline the Provincial Sales Tax.

The panel will have the following members:

• · Chair: Sarah Morgan-Silvester – chancellor of the University of British Columbia.
• · Lindsay Hall – chief financial officer, Goldcorp.
• · Laura Jones – senior vice-president research, Economics & Western Canada, Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
• · Elio Luongo – Canadian managing partner, KPMG and vice-president of the Vancouver Board of Trade.
• · Fiona Macfarlane – managing partner, Western Canada and chief inclusiveness officer, Ernst & Young LLP
• · Grace Wong – senior advisor international, office of the provost and vice-president academic, University of British Columbia and former assistant dean international, Sauder school of business.
• · (Adjunct Member) Dale Wall – former deputy minister, Ministry of Community and Rural Development, Province of British Columbia.

The expert panel will consider the competitiveness of British Columbia’s tax environment for business and develop recommendations about which taxes most influence competitiveness and economic growth. It will also identify and develop recommendations for ways in which the Government of British Columbia could address tax avoidance within the business or personal taxation systems. A component of the review will also look at municipal property taxation of business.

The panel’s recommendations must respect the Province’s balanced-budget framework. The report will be submitted by Aug. 31, 2012.

Quick Facts:

• · Private sector forecasters currently expect B.C. real GDP to have increased by 2.3 per cent in 2011, and to average 2.1 per cent growth in 2012.
• · B.C. exports were up 14.5 per cent year-to-date to October, despite a sluggish US economy and an elevated currency, highlighting B.C.’s diversified trade portfolio.
• · Export gains were largely in energy products (25.4 per cent), forestry (10.9 per cent) and industrial and consumer goods (14.8 per cent).
  • o Softwood lumber exports to China were up 92.2 per cent in the first ten months of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010.
  • · British Columbia’s low debt-to-GDP ratio — a key measure of affordability — forecast at 17.2 per cent for 2011-12. B.C. is one of only three provinces with a triple-A credit rating.

• · At 10 per cent, B.C. has the lowest general corporate income tax rate in Canada, along with Alberta and New Brunswick.
• · When all taxes are considered, British Columbians generally have one of the lowest tax burdens in the country.

Public consultation for a new employment action plan for persons with disabilities

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The public is invited to dialogue sessions to provide input into the development of a new employment action plan for persons with disabilities.
Grand Falls-Drummond-Saint-André MLA Danny Soucy and employer representative Jonathan Davenport, of UPS Canada, are co-chairing the steering committee for the action plan. The objective is to have it ready by April.

The aim of the plan is to encourage more persons with disabilities to take advantage of post-secondary education opportunities and to participate in the labour force.

Public dialogue sessions will be held in several locations at the same time on both Jan. 11 and Jan. 18.  Written submissions will also be accepted until Jan. 20.

Following are the dates and places of the public dialogue sessions:

Jan. 11:

Bilingual sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 24 if cancelled)
Simultaneous translation provided.

●    School District 5, 21 King St., Campbellton.

French-only sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 24 if cancelled)

●    School District 1, 425 Champlain St., Dieppe.

●    School District 3, 298 Martin St., Edmundston.

●    School District 9, 3376 Principale St., Tracadie-Sheila.

●    School District 11, 10 Commerciale St. (Unit 2), Richibucto.

Jan. 18:

Bilingual sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 25 if cancelled)
Simultaneous translation provided.

●    School District 8, Donaldson Room, 490 Woodward Ave., Saint John.

English-only sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 25 if is cancelled)

●    School District 2, first floor, 1077 St. George Blvd., Moncton.

●    School District 16, first floor conference room, 78 Henderson St., Miramichi.

●    School District 18, Conference Room A, 1135 Prospect St., Fredericton. Use School District 18 entrance.

LINK:

●    Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons: www.gnb.ca/council

VICTORIA – Premier Christy Clark announced today the creation of the B.C. Immigration Task Force to review key government programs in order to increase the number of skilled immigrants and investors in British Columbia.

“We’ve laid out an ambitious plan to create jobs in the BC Jobs Plan and we will need skilled immigrants to help fill more than one million job openings expected over the next decade,” said Premier Christy Clark. “The goal of this task force is to assess all of the immigration programs currently available to B.C., address their effectiveness and recommend ways to improve the current system so that British Columbia can successfully attract more skilled workers every year.”

The task force will be chaired by Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap and will be made up of business and community leaders. The task force will examine the current system of economic immigration to Canada and B.C., including a review of: the Provincial Nominee Program, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Immigrant Investor Program. The task force will assess the outcomes and results of all the programs and explore opportunities through the New West Partnership to increase the federal government’s responsiveness to immigration needs in Western Canada.

Task force members will engage with employers, industry and sector associations, settlement service providers, community associations and other relevant groups.

“The immigration task force is the first step in realizing our goal of a more efficient and effective immigration system,” said Yap. “We know that people from all over the world with diverse skill sets and talents want to come to our province, and we want to do everything we can to bring them here so they can make British Columbia their new home.”

Work will start immediately and a final report to be made public will be submitted to the Premier by March 31, 2012.

Learn More:

Visit the BC Jobs Plan website: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today took part in a pre-budget roundtable discussion in Charlottetown with business, academic and sectoral leaders from across the country. The event marks the launch of a series of cross-Canada consultations on how best to ensure Canada’s economy continues to produce jobs and growth in a difficult global economy.

“Budget 2012 will maintain our focus on jobs and economic growth while reducing the deficit and returning to balance in the medium term,” said Minister Flaherty. “Today and in coming weeks, I want to hear from Canadians on how we can advance the next phase of our Economic Action Plan to continue to deliver results on these prioirities.”

Cross-country consultations with Minister Flaherty will continue into the New Year, with venues and details to be announced as they become available.

In order to ensure that all Canadians can participate in this process, the Government of Canada has also launched online pre-budget consultations.

New task force to cut red tape for small business

Edmonton… A new provincial task force aims to reduce the regulatory burden for small businesses in Alberta to help boost economic growth, competitiveness and innovation.

“Without small business, our province’s economic growth would simply not be possible,” said Premier Alison Redford. “Alberta has the largest number of small businesses per capita in Canada and we want to ensure that we have the right rules in place for health, safety and the environment while reducing the regulatory burden that gets in the way of business doing its job.”

The Red Tape Reduction Task Force is chaired by Ty Lund, MLA for Rocky Mountain House. Other task force members are:

• Robin Campbell, MLA for West Yellowhead;
• Dr. Neil Brown, Q.C. MLA for Calgary-Nose Hill;
• Kyle Fawcett, MLA for Calgary-North Hill; and,
• Art Johnston, MLA for Calgary-Hays.

The task force will work with small business leaders and associations from across Alberta during December and January to receive input about ways to improve the regulatory environment in which they operate. Following that input, the task force will provide a final report before the end of March 2012, with recommendations on actions for government.

More information on the Red Tape Reduction Task Force is available at www.alberta.ca/RedTapeReduction.cfm.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:

Premier appoints task force to ensure landowners heard

Edmonton… Premier Alison Redford has created a task force that will be asking Albertans for their concerns regarding property rights.

“We have heard concerns from landowners that their property rights need to be better respected,” said Redford. “We need to move towards a more common-sense approach when it comes to property rights.”

The task force will be chaired by Diana McQueen, Minister of Environment and Water, with Evan Berger, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as the vice-chair.

Other members include Verlyn Olson, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Jeff Johnson, Minister of Infrastructure; Cal Dallas, Minister of Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations; Frank Oberle, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development; Raymond Prins, MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka; and Arno Doerksen, MLA for Strathmore Brooks.

“We want to listen to Albertans and have a discussion about what property rights mean to them and what needs to be improved,” said McQueen.

In December, meetings will take place with stakeholders. In January, open houses will occur in several communities. To complement face-to-face efforts, a website will allow for written input from Albertans. Further details on how Albertans can participate will be released in the coming weeks.

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Building Capacity in Developing Countries in the Area of Natural Resources Management

On October 27, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the creation of the Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development.  This announcement delivers on the Government of Canada’s commitment to support initiatives in developing countries that promote sustainable economic growth, create jobs and reduce long-term poverty.

This initiative will benefit partner countries by enhancing their capacity to manage their respective natural resources, including minerals, oil and gas.

The Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development

The newly created Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development will undertake policy research to identify best practices in extractive sector management for individual countries, and arrange technical assistance for governments and communities in developing countries through a partnership between the Federal government,Canada’s private sector and Canadian civil-society organizations.  The Institute will draw on the lessons learned inCanadaon extractive sector management.

The Institute will be housed in a Canadian university that combines a strong public-policy capacity with knowledge of the extractive sector and of mining in particular. Selection of the university will be carried out through a competitive process and the successful applicant will be expected to make an in-kind contribution to the creation and operation of the Institute.

Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy

The Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development complements the Government of Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector, announced in March 2009, and Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy, announced in 2010.

The objective of the Strategy is to improve the competitive advantage of Canadian international extractive sector companies by enhancing their ability to manage social and environmental risks. The CSR Strategy is based on four pillars:

1. Support capacity building initiatives in developing countries to manage the development of minerals and oil and gas, and to benefit from these resources to reduce poverty
2. Promote the widely-recognized international CSR performance guidelines
3. Set up the Office of the Extractive Sector CSR Counsellor
4. Support the development of a CSR Centre of Excellence

Today’s announcement complements four recently announced pilot projects worth approximately $26.7 million designed to reduce poverty in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

For more information on Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector, please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s website (http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/ds/csr-strategy-rse-stategie.aspx?lang=eng&view=d).

Cutting Red Tape…freeing business to grow

Between January and March 2011, the Commission consulted with Canadians and received approximately 2,300 ideas about where red tape was getting in the way of businesses.

On September 6, 2011, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), and chair of the Red Tape Reduction Commission, announced the release of the Commission’s What Was Heard report.

Members of the business community are invited to complete an online questionnaire to share their views on the proposed lasting, systemic solutions identified in this report.

“Canada has one of the world’s strongest and most open economies, based on sound low-tax policies and free market fundamentals,” said Minister Fast. “Based on these principles, the WTO report underscores the pivotal role Canada’s Economic Action Plan played in helping Canadians weather and combat the effects of the global recession.”

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today welcomed the World Trade Organization (WTO) report on Canada’s trade policy. The report, entitled Trade Policy Review: Canada, praises Canada’s strong economic performance in weathering the global recession without resorting to protectionist trade measures.

According to the report, “since its last review in 2007, Canada has taken steps to further improve the productivity and competitiveness of its economy, including through unilateral trade liberalization… Driven by a strong and dynamic services sector (almost 80 percent of GDP), as well as rich endowments in natural resources, the Canadian economy is quite diversified.”

“Canada has one of the world’s strongest and most open economies, based on sound low-tax policies and free market fundamentals,” said Minister Fast. “Based on these principles, the WTO report underscores the pivotal role Canada’s Economic Action Plan played in helping Canadians weather and combat the effects of the global recession.”

The report also says Canada’s Global Commerce Strategy “has prompted the government to more vigorously pursue trade, investment, and air services agreements,” and notes that “Canada’s considerably expanded FTA [free trade agreement] agenda marks a departure with its past practice.”

“Since 2006, we have signed free trade agreements with eight countries, and negotiations covering some 50 more are under way,” added Minister Fast. “We are pursuing these agreements because our government understands that Canadians’ standard of living and future prosperity depend on deepening and broadening our trading relationships.”

All WTO members periodically undergo an assessment of their trade policies. This year’s review takes place on June 20 and 22, 2011, at the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland. The report is produced as part of this review.

“One in five Canadian jobs is dependent on exports,” said Minister Fast. “To protect and strengthen the financial security of hard-working Canadians, we will continue to pursue a low-tax, free trade plan, and we are pleased to see the WTO has acknowledged the merits of this approach.”

The WTO report is available online at Trade Policy Review: Canada.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Adam Taylor
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332

Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
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The Plan Nord – “The Plan Nord is the project of a generation” – Jean Charest

Québec, May 9, 2011 – Québec Premier Jean Charest, Deputy Premier, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord Nathalie Normandeau, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and the Nord-du-Québec region Pierre Corbeil, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks Pierre Arcand, Minister responsible for Native Affairs Geoffrey Kelley, and Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife and Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region and the Côte-Nord region Serge Simard today launched the Plan Nord, one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken in Québec and the project of a generation. The Plan Nord first offered a perspective of sustainable development in Québec and is now one of the biggest economic, social and environmental development projects in Québec’s history.

“The Plan Nord will be carried out over 25 years and engender investments of over $80 billion. It will create or consolidate 20 000 jobs a year, on average, and generate $14 billion in revenue for the government and Québec society. The economic spinoff and social development stemming from the Plan Nord will enhance the living conditions of northern populations. Through the needs for manpower, knowledge and expertise that it engenders, its benefits will be felt throughout Québec. The Plan Nord will be to the coming decades what the development of La Manicouagan and James Bay was to the 1960s and 1970s,” Premier Charest said.

A unique approach

The Plan Nord is one of the most ambitious projects that Québec has undertaken. The approach adopted is equally ambitious. Since January 2010, a number of Aboriginal and local communities have worked together. Over 60 meetings were held of sectorial and consensus-building working groups in which over 450 people participated. Through its representative, participatory approach, the Plan Nord will be a unique model of sustainable development that reconciles social and economic development and environmental protection.

“The Plan Nord is a sweeping, human adventure. It is unique both in its scope and its approach. It stems from the reflections of the gouvernement du Québec, regional elected representatives and Aboriginal representatives who, in collaboration with representatives of the economic, social and environmental sectors concerned, have defined the North of tomorrow. For over a year, all of them have sought to define conditions in Northern Québec and establish new methods of collaboration. The Plan Nord offers an inclusive approach that fully respects the communities, an innovative partnership between the government, the private sector and the communities that will generate benefits for all Quebecers,” Minister Normandeau added.

“The North’s key asset is its residents, who are noteworthy for their youth, craving for the future and desire to develop their environment. The Plan Nord must mean for all Aboriginal communities economic and social spinoff and the enhancement of their living conditions. I am referring here to education, training, job creation, culture and health. For future generations, the Plan Nord will be a source of inspiration, an innovative development model based on dialogue, mutual respect and partnership,” Minister Kelley said.

An outstanding territory

The territory that the Plan Nord covers encompasses all of Québec’s territory north of the 49th parallel. It covers nearly 1.2 million km² and accounts for roughly 72% of Québec’s geographic area. It has one of the world’s biggest fresh water reserves, made up of nearly 500 000 lakes and thousands of rivers. The territory accounts for over three-quarters of Québec’s installed hydroelectric power generation capacity and the potential of untapped water, wind and photovoltaic (solar energy) power is just as considerable. The vast territory encompasses over 200 000 km² of commercial forests that represent more than 53% of Québec’s operable forests. It offers outstanding wildlife resources and, among vast intact natural territories in the world, some of the last potential for preservation. All sorts of mineral ore abounds in Northern Québec: nickel, cobalt, platinum group metals, zinc, iron ore and ilmenite. The territory also accounts for a significant portion of gold production. Lithium, vanadium and rare-earth metals, for which international demand is growing since they are used increasingly in the energy, transportation and high-technology sectors, are also found there.

Community well-being and development

The enhancement of living conditions in Aboriginal and local communities is a key concern under the Plan Nord. Significant demographic changes occurred between 1991 and 2006 in the territory. The populations are young and make up a substantial labour pool. However, demographic changes are exerting strong pressure on several services. To promote community well-being and development, the Plan Nord makes provision for measures in the realms of education, manpower, housing, health and culture.

Northern Québec’s economic potential

The Plan Nord falls within the scope of the priority initiatives that the gouvernement du Québec has put forward to develop Québec’s economic potential and create wealth. It seeks to achieve sustainable development in the energy, mineral resources, forest, wildlife, tourism and bio-food production sectors. The Plan Nord, through its scope, the extent of its spinoff, the abundance of the knowledge required and the suppliers involved, will benefit all regions of Québec and all sectors of the economy. It also seeks to spur innovation and the manufacture of products with higher added value that will ensure Quebecers’ prosperity.

Environmental protection

At all stages of the planning and realization of the projects put forward under the Plan Nord, the protection of the environment and northern ecosystems will be at the forefront of decision-making. To this end, the government undertakes to ensure that the projects are carried out in a spirit of respect for the principles of sustainable development and are subject to rigorous environmental analyses. The government is making two additional commitments to ensure environmental protection in the territory that the Plan Nord covers, i.e. to ultimately set aside 50% of the territory for purposes other than industrial ones, environmental protection and safeguarding biodiversity, and to establish by 2015 a network of protected areas equivalent to at least 12% of the area of the territory in question.

A government corporation and a financial framework

To pursue the consensus-building process that led to the elaboration of the Plan Nord, the government will establish the Société du Plan Nord, a coordinating body specifically dedicated to the concerted implementation of development projects under the Plan Nord. Through the corporation, the government is confirming its determination to make the development of the North a priority and adopt the means necessary to implement the priority in an orderly, practical and sustainable manner.  The corporation will report to the Minister responsible for the Plan Nord. It will play a leading role by coordinating the implementation of projects under the first five-year plan, for which the Fonds du Plan Nord will provide funding.  Innovative funding will establish a direct link between economic activity that the Plan Nord triggers and the resources invested to develop infrastructure and enhance social services intended for the inhabitants of the territory in question.

The vastness of the northern territory poses a daunting challenge from the standpoint of access and transportation and communications infrastructure. The Société du Plan Nord will have a mandate to implement the integrated development of different modes of transportation and means of telecommunication. Public investments will be emphasized to develop a transportation and communications network that will support the realization of economic development projects.

www.plannord.gouv.qc.ca

The Plan Nord in a nutshell… (PDF Fornat, 48 Kb)